Improved bedstead-fastening



UNITED STATES PATENTOFFIGE.

JOHN C. TURNER, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

/ IMPROVED BEDSTEAD-FASTENING.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 104,082, dated June 7, 1870.

To whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J oHN C. TURNER, of Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bedstead-Fastenin gs, of which the following is a specification:

My invention relates to devices for fastening together the side rails and posts of bedste-ads.

Many devices 'of various kinds have been heretofore used for this purpose, all of which are open to more or less objection; Some, while forming a tight joint, are nevertheless too expensive and cumbersome to be used, while others are veryl frail, defective in construction, and untitted to resist the strain which they are required to bear. These latter defects are especially noticeable in that class of fastenings composed of one or more wedgeshaped hooks or catches, which engage with pins or other equivalent devices in such manner as to jam or wedge together the sides and post-s of the bedstead. Such fastenings are veryliable either to break or to work loose, and in either case to become unserviceable.

My invention relates more especially to the class of fastenings last referred to; and it is' my object to produce a fastening which shall' combine cheapness with durability.

To this end my invention consists, first, in forming the hook which catches over the pin upon a metallic plate, which is secured to the side rail or other part with which the hook is to be connected, and serves to thoroughly brace and strengthen the hook; second, in the combination, with the side rail, to which the hook and its backing or supporting plate are attached, of the bed-post, slotted to receive the hook and plate, with a pin eXtendin g transversely about half-way through the slot, more or less, so as to allow the hook to catch over it, and yet leave a space between the end of said pin and the side of the slot for the reception of the backing-plate upon which the hook is formed.

The manner in which my invention is 0r may be carried into effect will be readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of a part of the side rail of a bedstead, with the hook and bracing-platein position. Fig. 2 is a like View of a portion of one of the posts, showing the slot and the position of the pin therein. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section, on an enlarged scale, of the parts shown separately in the preceding figures when the same are put together.

The formation of the hook and its supporting-plate is shown clearly in Figs. l and 3. Both are made or cast in one piece of metal, in which a recess or slot is formed, so as to leave the projection or hook a and the backing or supportingplate b. The sides of the slot are made slanting, so as to cause the hook, when it engages with the pin, to act as a wedge, and draw the side rail and post together. The hook is, in fact, a projection on the face of the plate b, and the latter, being solid and continuous, forms an excellent support for the hook, and imparts great strength and durability to the fastening.

In order to secure the plate to the side rail A, the casting or plate at its rear part is formed with a semicircular rib or strip, which is set into a slot of corresponding form cut in the side, and is then secured in place by the covering or holding piece j', which is screwed down upon it. The plate may have any other suitable form, and other modes of fastening the plate to the rail may be employed; but that just described I consider to be the best and cheapest.

The outer edge of the plate is curved or rounded, in orderto admit of its ready insertion into the slot in the post B. This slot is represented at g in Figs. 2 and 3. It is of sufficiently greater size than the plate to keep its bottom from contact with the edge of the plate, thus leaving the hook free to wedge itself upon the pin h. This pin passes transversely through one side of the post, and

extends about half-way through the slot, or to such a distance as to leave between its end and the side of the slot opposite it sufcient space for the plate l; to pass.

Any other suitable device for the hook to catch upon may be employed in lieu of the pin, though I prefer the use of the latter.

In putting the parts together, the plate and hook are inserted in the slot g, so that the hook will catch over the pin 7i and the plate will pass between the end of the pin and the side of the slot. Owing to the inclination of the hook the end of the rail will be drawn tightly against the post, and any weight or pressure upon the rail will only tend to more firmly unite the two. The hook is enabled to resist this pressure, for the plate by which it is backed gives it very great strength, and the saine plate also strengthens the curved holding-rib d, which is not nearly so liable to break or work loose as formerly.

Instead of making the hook slantin g it may be made straight, and the tightening of the rail and post may be effected by other meansas, for instance, by applying wedge-shaped pieces to the end of the rail and the post; but the mode herein described of accomplishing this result is the cheapest and most practicable.

Having now described my invention and the manner in which the same is or may be carried into effect, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. llhe fastening-hook, formed upon a plate which backs and supports the saine, and by means of which it may be secured to the side rail or other part of the bedstead, substantially as shown and set forth.

2. The wedge-shaped or inclined fasteninghook, its supporting-plate, and the semicircular or curved ho1ding-rib, east in one piece of metal, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. The combination, with the side rail and the hook and supporting-plate fastened to said rail, of the post, slotted to receive said hook and plate, and the pin extending partly across said slot, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification before two subscribing Wit-- nesses.

JOHN C. TURNER.

Witnesses:

M. BAILEY, EDM. F. BROWN. 

